Ip wins and experiences flashbacks of his life, from his early training at the age of seven, to his induction into Wing Chun by his master, Chan Wah-shun, and his marriage to Cheung Wing-sing. Wing Chun grandmaster Ip Man reflects on the nature of martial arts as he battles a dozen combatants during a rainstorm in Foshan.

The film uses narration from Ip Man and Gong Er throughout the plot, as well as numerous flashbacks and flashforwards. It is the only one of Wong Kar-Wai’s films to be recognized by the Academy Awards. Despite this, the film was nominated for Best Cinematography and Best Costume Design. The film was selected as the Hong Kong entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards, making the January shortlist, but ultimately did not receive the nomination. The Weinstein Company acquired the international distribution rights for the film. The film was selected as part of the 2013 Hong Kong International Film Festival. It was the opening film at the 63rd Berlin International Film Festival in February 2013. It was released on 8 January 2013 in China.

The film was directed and written by Wong Kar-wai and stars Tony Leung as Ip Man.

Andrew O’Hehir – : All I know is that I got lost in it, and that I would still have loved it if it were twice as long with half the action.The Grandmaster is a 2013 martial arts drama film based on the life story of the Wing Chun grandmaster Ip Man.

Joe Neumaier – New York Daily News : An exquisite-looking, fitfully moving drama from the director of “In the Mood for Love.”.

Manohla Dargis – New York Times : However much history informs this movie, “The Grandmaster” is, at its most persuasive, about the triumph of style.

Scott Bowles – USA Today : An historical opus that is equal parts ballet and biography, though the second component pales in comparison with the first.

Kenneth Turan – Los Angeles Times : You’ll feel decadent enjoying it, but everything is so tasty, it would be foolish to object.

Joe Morgenstern – Wall Street Journal : For those who aren’t ardent students of kung fu’s schools and styles, however, the movie is, for most of its length, a lifeless snore.

Genre : Drama, Action & Adventure, Art House & International, Special Interest Filming for Wong Kar Wai’s martial-arts film had to be stopped because the leading actor’s arm was broken by an instructor during training.

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